SWS Waiver Request

Dr. Lindsay Ellis, the director of the SWS Program, will consider requests for changes in or waivers of the Supplemental Writing Skills Course requirement. Please do not submit a change or waiver request simply because you have taken a course that required writing. Changes of the requirement are granted only in extraordinary circumstances. Students planning to study abroad, who want to inquire whether a course offered while studying away, may submit an inquiry for advice using this system.  Official waivers can only be submitted after a course has been completed, when the students' written work and grades can be evaluated.

Before submitting a waiver request, make certain that your course meets the main criteria for an SWS course:

  1. The writing must be expository writing, analyzing a particular content area — that is, not fiction writing, news writing, etc.
  2. At least one-third of the course grade must be based on the writing assignment.
  3. At least four class hours during the semester must be devoted to discussing writing.
  4. At least 3,000 words must be submitted, not counting essay exams.
  5. Students must be taught revision. Courses that assign a term paper, due in its final draft at the end of the semester, do not qualify.
  6. You must have completed the course with a grade of "C" or better (not "C-").

* denotes a required field

Student Information


Course Information


Additional Information

Appeals to use a GVSU course not designated SWS must include:

  • Brief statement of your reason for requesting a waiver
  • Course syllabus for the GVSU course that you wish to receive SWS credit
  • Papers written for the GVSU course that you wish to receive SWS credit
  • GVSU transcript

Please attach up to three papers written for the GVSU course that you wish to receive SWS credit

Appeals to use transfer courses not designated SWS must include:

  • Brief statement of your reason for requesting a waiver
  • Transfer credit statement
  • Transcript from the other school
  • Course description for the transfer course that you wish to receive SWS credit
  • Papers written for the transfer course that you wish to receive SWS credit

Please Note:  Only one transfer course will be accepted toward fulfillment of the SWS requirement.  Additional writing courses transferred in do not equal the second SWS course.  Except in extreme cases, the second course must be taken at GVSU.

Please attach up to three papers written for the transfer course that you wish to receive SWS credit

Human Verification *



Page last modified February 20, 2024